Quick release mop head jaws retainer

ABSTRACT

This invention is a quick release mop head of the jaws type. The invention has two significant advances in the art. The most important advance is the provision of an elastic closure which consists of a cord of elastic material secured to one of two hanged jaws at one end. The second end of the cord has an enlarged portion with a handle which slips into a socket on the other jaw for closure allowing enough flexing to prevent breaking the jaws under difficult conditions. This also allows for easy changing of the mop. Additionally I have provided a magnetic closure for simplified interim changing of the mop

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] I. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention is in the general field of mops used in janitorialservices;

[0003] The invention is more particularly in the field of jaws typeretaining and clamping devices for yarn type mop heads;

[0004] The invention is even most particularly in the field of improved,quick release jaws mop head clamping devices.

[0005] II. Description of the Prior Art

[0006] There has been much prior art in the fields of jaws-typeretaining and clamping devices for attaching yarn type mop heads to mophandles. I am aware of U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,235, which in itself recitesprior art in this field. I am aware of the prior art.

[0007] Extensive as the prior art in this general field has been, I amunaware of any prior art as to the quick release method and means I haveinvented. My invention is an elastic ball and ball retainer arrangementwhich is easily operable by anyone and which requires no tools, specialskills, or the like.

[0008] Additionally, my invention is designed for sufficient elasticityto provide a safety cushion for preventing breakage of the clamping jawsmechanism under inadvertent undo stress.

[0009] I do not know of any prior art which teaches, nor suggests, mypresent quick release mop head jaws retainer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The device shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,235 is anexcellent piece of equipment, works well, and was a significant advancein the type of mop head jaws utilizing an upper jaw connected to a mophandle and a lower jaw pivotally connected to the upper jaw. However,for some persons it is somewhat difficult to use due to the forcerequired to engage the latching arrangement, and the tendency of mopmaterial to lodge in the latching arrangement. Additionally, undercertain stressing while mopping the latch can become disengaged.

[0011] I have been interested in mops and mopping for some time. One ofthe things I have worked on is the jaws type mop head where the two jawspivot upon one another. The latching, or closing in position on a mophas been of prime concern. All of the devices of this nature of which Iam aware have deficiencies of reliability of securing of the mop,particularly under many of the stresses of mopping which result inbiased forces upon the jaws. The rigidity of the connection between thejaws causes problems, including breakage. Also, the necessity toaccommodate mops of varying thickness results in less than mosteffective holding of the mop.

[0012] I have now solved the deficiencies of the prior devices byutilizing an elastic closure device which is easily fastened andunfastened by a single individual. The elastic closure uses a reliableball and socket arrangement in order to insure against breakage orunintentional opening of the jaws while at the same time allowing forsufficient elasticity.

[0013] It is an object of this invention to provide a superior jaws typemop head;

[0014] It is another object of this invention to provide a jaws type mophead which has an elastic closure;

[0015] Another object of this invention is to provide a closure for ajaws type mop head which will accommodate different size mops.

[0016] The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading thedescription of a preferred embodiment, which follows, in conjunctionwith a review of the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational/perspective view of a device,open and with no mop in place, suitable to practice the method of thisinvention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a view of the device of FIG. 1 but with device closedand a mop being held in the jaws of the device; and

[0019]FIG. 3 is the area in the dotted circle 3 as it will appear withmy magnetic holding embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] An inventory of items in the drawings with reference numerals is:Numeral Item 10 tube for insertion of mop handle 11 support web 12support web 13 upper jaw 14 teeth 15 lower jaw 16 teeth 17 pivotconnection of upper & lower jaw 18 elastic cord 19 enlarged end on cord20 handle on enlarged end 21 pivot connection of cord to lower jaw 22support and jaw stop 23 jaw stop end 24 cord socket arm 25 cord socket26 mop 27 lower jaw stop position 103 encircled area 3 on Fig. 1 as itwould appear modified by magnetic means 115 lower jar modified 118elastic cord 121 pivot connection of cord to lower jaw 122 support andjaw stop 123 magnet 127 magnet or magnetically attractable material

[0021] The mop head of this invention consists of a tube or the like 10to connect to a mop handle with suitable body webs or the like 11 and 12to provide strength and stability to the connected upper jaw 13. Severalprotrusions, or teeth, 14 are provided to hold the mop as will beunderstood by those skilled in the art. The lower jaw 15 which has teeth16 is pivotally connected at 17 to upper jaw 13.

[0022] A rubber, or other elastic cord, 18 having an enlarged portion 19is pivotally connected at 21 to lower jaw 15. The enlarged portion 19 ispreferably, but not necessarily, in the shape of a ball. A handle 20 isformed integrally with, or attached to, the enlarged portion 19. Arm 24is integrally formed with support and jaw stop member 22. Arm 24 has ahorseshoe shaped open end 25 as shown. The opening is formed so as toallow the cord to enter and to cradle and hold the enlarged portion 19in place when under tension. The handle 20 is suitable to slide betweenthe fingers to be pulled into position under tension when the lower jawstop position 27 buts against jaw stop end 23.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, in one form of this invention I use a specialmagnetic interim holding arrangement. What is shown is how the devicewould look with the magnetic holding arrangement. All of the parts wouldbe exactly the same with the same reference numerals except the numeralswould all be in the one hundred series. I have only shown the limitedportion of the alternate embodiment as that will be understood by thoseskilled in the art. I fasten a magnet 123 to the end of support stop122. and another magnet, or piece of magnetically attractable material127 on the lower jaw. This gives a substantial advantage in fasteningthe jaws on the mop. The mop can be placed exactly as desired and easilyheld that way until the magnetic action holds the jaws together. Then,the jaws can easily be locked while no attention to keeping the mop inthe proper position is required. This is true whether using my elasticcord for the final locking in position for mopping or by using thelatching system of U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,235 or any other latching systemof which I am aware. It is believed that this feature is also completelyunique, novel, and useful.

[0024] Prior to actual use the mop head will be opened as shown inFIG. 1. The mop 26 will then be placed between the opened jaws. If mymagnetic system is used, the jaws will be closed and held closed.Thereafter, my elastic cord will be pulled tight and into the holdingsocket. The mop is then ready for any use.

[0025] In the claims which follow if I fail to claim a patentablefeature which is revealed in this application, such failure to claim bedue to inadvertence and does not indicate any desire to abandon ordedicate such feature. In such event, upon discovering my omission Ishall seek to correct it by reissue, continuing application, or otherappropriate means.

[0026] While the embodiments of this invention shown and described arefully capable of achieving the objects and advantages desired, it is tobe understood that such embodiments are shown for purposes ofillustration only and not for purposes of limitation.

I claim:
 1. A closure device for a mop head comprising: a firstsubstantially rigid elongate bar having a first end and a second end; asecond substantially rigid elongate bar having a first end and a secondend; means fastening said first end of said first bar to said first endof said second bar; and elastic means suitable to fasten said first andsecond bars at their second ends in such manner that said bars aresubstantially parallel.
 2. A closure device for a mop head comprising: afirst substantially rigid elongate bar having a first end and a secondend; a second substantially rigid elongate bar having a first end and asecond end; means fastening said first end of said first bar to saidfirst end of said second bar; magnetic means adjacent the second end ofthe first bar, magnetic means adjacent the second end of the second barin such manner that the magnetic means on both bars may be attracted toeach other in such manner as to hold the two bars in parallel alignment;and elastic means suitable to fasten said first and second bars at theirsecond ends in such manner that said bars remain substantially parallelunder stresses created when the device is used in mopping.